"Used - Good Condition"
Help me think this through. In my mind "good condition" for a used book means - some visible wear, maybe a dent or ding or two on the cover, yellowed pages, some smudges or stray marks.....but not Sharpie marks all over, water damaged pages, lots of dents on cover, liberal marking in the text, loose binding with pages about to fall out.....
I would think the above would be "fair" or "poor".
What do you all expect? I was going to say I should NEVER buy used again, but then I got my TOG stuff from Robin and it's lovely AND she only charged 50% of new - whereas this other charged 70% of new.....
BTW - when I commented on the condition of the book I was told that it had worked fine for her family for a year and she never considered that it wasn't in "good shape". OK - when my books look like this they get marked WAY down or go on a free table...or we keep using them. I wouldn't have minded buying it if I KNEW that was the condition I was getting......
The irony is that I recently sold something used. I'd loaned it out and hadn't checked it before selling it (bad move ::snort::) - evidently IT was in shocking condition - so I know this can happen.....but I'm wondering am I simply expecting TOO MUCH for USED? I mean it IS silly, say on PBS, to expect NEW when it is used.....but on the other hand - or maybe a foot by now - it irritates me to pay a price that is 70% of new and find that it is in BAD shape. I would have gladly paid 80% and bought it NEW from ROCK SOLID or RAINBOW or AMAZON - I DO have several more children to use this book.....
What do you all think......BTW I decided to keep the book because the son who is using it this year is NOTORIOUS for being rough on books....::snort::
Sis:
ReplyDeleteI think you are right.
l/p
Could you cover the book in clear contact paper to help give it a longer shelf life?
ReplyDeleteSuzanne in MO
I share your frustration.....
ReplyDeleteFor a price of 70% of new, I would have expected to receive a nearly new book (very good condition). For a book as you described, I would not have charged more than 25% of new.
ReplyDeleteI would have listed the book as "fair" or "acceptable" AND then gave a breakdown of the condition. It is no way "good" condition.
ReplyDeleteBarb-Harmony Art Mom
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/harmonyartmom
I wouldn't have sold the book to begin with. That's DESTROYED, in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteGood is something that can be used without having to strain to see any part of it. Good is being able to use "as is" and not have to do repair or cover it in order to make it work. The price was not reasonable, either.
This is a buyer beware warning....I guess you can't trust anyone that much any more.
D, I agree ~ if the book is listed used but in good condition, that's exactly what you should expect to receive, not something that has been marked up and is falling apart. I have yet to receive a book in poor condition from either PBS or an Amazon used book seller, but I know it happens. How frustrating. The only thing I can think of is that perhaps this lady's standards for what is acceptable as "used but in good condition" is different from yours and mine?
ReplyDeleteP.S. I sure hope the books I sent you were satisfactory! lol ;)
ReplyDeleteDe'Etta, I'm sorry you had a bad experience with purchasing a used book. You're correct in expecting to assume an almost new or near new book for paying 70% of full price. Can you leave feedback or at least email the seller about the condition of the book? Maybe the seller treats her books differently and has different expectations.....I would be frustrated as well.
ReplyDeleteYou are right! She should compensate you in some way since she did not advertise correctly. At the least, I'd not do business with her again.
ReplyDeleteI want it to say *excellent* or *like new* if I am going to pay over 50% of the new price.
Don't give up on buying used though. Be very diligent in asking questions before committing to buy.
Well actually Trish the book you sent was the one I was talking about. ::snort:: NOT. The RS looks lovely. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteUGH - I always feel like a snob or something to ask questions like that....and it's not that I wouldn't have bought the book - I just wouldn't have paid so much for it.
ReplyDeleteOK - so good should usually be o.k. I just got a lemon.
I've only had one book that was bad that I got from PBS....
Ditto everyone's comments. That is too much to pay for a book in that condition.
ReplyDelete70% and not like new or in very good condition? That was not a bargain :(
ReplyDeleteI will be selling our TOG Yr 1 LG/UG books when the year is finished. I was thinking somewhere 60-70% of the price new since the books are in very good condition (at least they are now)
De'Etta, I would have said the MOTH was very good LOL. I'm so scared to post the condition of my books for fear I think they are good when they're not!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started reading, I thought, "Oh no! What happened to that book while it sat upstairs before I mailed it."
Then I thought....De'Etta would surely email me first LOLOL.......
De'Etta,
ReplyDeleteComing in a little late here, but you are right. Water damage and marks like that never let a book approach even good condition. I'm not even sure that fair covers it. Poor is more my choice for that condition. I've been trying to get sell books on cash4books.net and I go by their rating for books as well as Educational Accents sites rating (http://www.edaccents.com/)
I pray you can work out a satisfactory agreement with the seller.
Lis